Check Out Renderings of the Lower L.A. River Revitalization

Stakeholders envision new green space and access points between Vernon and Long Beach.

Last year, the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group unveiled its draft revitalization plan for the 19 miles of the concrete-encased waterway that runs between the City of Vernon and the Port of Long Beach. Now, a new set of renderings revealed by ArchDaily show off architecture firm Perkins + Will's vision of new open space and greenery along the river, highlighting three opportunity spots identified by the plan.

The Rio Hondo Confluence

The L.A. River's confluence with the Rio Hondo - located near the cities of South Gate, Downey, Paramount, and Lynwood - is recognized by the plan as isolated from surrounding bedroom communities by a series of industrial zones. Proposed modifications to the river channel would include vegetated terraces, access ramps, and a new river crossing. Three bridge parks are proposed across the channel, linking existing and proposed green spaces.

River South of Willow

Per the revitalization plan, the 1.2-mile stretch of the L.A. River to the south of Long Beach is lined on both sides by low-density residential neighborhoods and a popular bike trail which runs along a levee on the east bank. This segment of the River has a soft-bottom channel and is located in close proximity to San Pedro Bay. Proposed improvements would include floating boardwalks, bridge parks, access ramps, multi-use paths, and bird-watching platforms.

Cudahy River Park

The proposed park site, located between Clara Street and a rail crossing, is flanked by low-density residential neighborhoods and several existing parks. The L.A. River bike path runs along the channel's west side, but there are no public access points in this area.

Proposed improvements would include multi-use bridges, access ramps, and levee terracing. Space between existing utility lines along the east bank could be repurposed as green space, and shared streets could improve connections to the surrounding community.

The project comes as L.A. County stakeholders push ahead with a new master plan for the full 51 miles of the River, a process that is being led by Frank Gehry and landscape architecture firm OLIN.